DFC Intelligence predicts that the global market for video game software on console systems will grow by right around 30 percent to somewhere in the neighborhood of $22 to $23 billion a year from 2016 to 2018. This figure includes revenue from game software from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony, but excludes additional revenue these platforms will receive from non-gaming sources such as streaming video.

The firm looked at all major game segments including PC games, online games and mobile games. Overall the industry is expected to reach $79 billion a year by 2016 at which point revenue is expected to level off for several years. According to DFC Intelligence analyst David Cole, “in recent years the game industry has declined mainly because of slowing sales of console systems. However, the very successful launch of the Sony PlayStation 4 and the Microsoft Xbox One clearly show there is a great deal of consumer demand for video games.”